Checking in on Santa’s reindeer, tracking their flight

As Santa and his reindeer make their final preparations for the big event this weekend, Alaska State Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Gerlach, just cleared Santa’s reindeer for flight duty and entry across the United States.

The “Certificate of Veterinary Inspection” allows Santa, aka Kris Kringle, and his sleigh to travel across the country. They are set to start the trek from North Pole, Alaska.

The reason for the movement? Toy delivery.

Meanwhile, the folks at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) have been hard at work making final preparations for a most important mission-tracking Santa.

Every day, NORAD defends North America using an all-domain and globally integrated approach to track everything that flies in and around Canada and the United States.

Like many origin stories, NORAD’s mission to track Santa began by accident. Way back in 1955 a young child, trying to reach Santa, dialed the misprinted phone number from a department store ad in the local newspaper. Instead of calling Santa, the child called the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, the commander on duty that night who answered the child’s phone call, was quick to realize a mistake had been made and assured the child he was Santa. After more incoming calls, Col. Shoup assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls and a tradition was born. One that continued when NORAD was formed in 1958.

Ever since then, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on December 24 to millions of children and families across the world. Because of the support, services and resources generously provided by volunteers and our government and corporate contributors, ‘NORAD Tracks Santa’ has persevered for more than 65 years.

Each year, the ‘NORAD Tracks Santa’ Web Site receives several million unique visitors from more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Volunteers typically answer more than 130,000 calls to the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline from children across the globe.

“Most of our volunteers are DoD personnel and their families in the local Colorado Springs area. Shifts are also allotted for civic leaders and community members. We’re always looking at possible ways to expand our pool, but we’re never lacking in support,” said Lt Sean Carter, the NORAD Tracks Santa Program Manager, in an interview last year with the Track Santa Newsroom.

The NORAD Santa Tracker takes over 53,000 phone calls from nearly every single country in the world with telephone access and international dialing. The website currently supports 8 different languages. So, what started because of a typo has flourished and is recognized as one of the Department of Defense’s largest community outreach programs.

For those who think that all that traveling might wear out Jolly Old Saint Nick, fear not. NORAD intelligence reports that Santa does not experience time the same way everyday ordinary folks do. It seems that Santa has a way of transcending time, and NORAD estimates that Santa actually travels at the speed of starlight.

A little closer to home, the Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer, reports that Santa has been spotted at the farm checking on his team before the big day. But he has been elusive as might be expected as Santa and their reindeer have a big event of some kind.

The Reindeer Farm has brought back the popular Christmas on the Farm event. A self-guided exploration of the farm. This event includes photos with Santa Claus, a chance to feed and view the animals, an indoor snow ball fight (a great way to let off steam), and games.

This event will have timed ticketing, with a limited number of tickets available. Please arrive and exit at your designated time. This event is ONLY available December 23rd and 24th, and people are encouraged to check availability.

If people can’t make it, the Reindeer Farm will continue with a Winter Reindeer Experience December 26-31.

For people wanting to follow the NORAD Santa Tracker, visit www.noradsanta.org. People can also follow the NORAD Santa Tracker on Facebook and Instagram.

For more information about the Reindeer Farm tours, check the availability for tours at www.reindeerfar.com